Posts Tagged ‘family fun’

We talk a lot about man caves here, and while we believe every man (and woman) should have their castle, we’re a very family-oriented company as well. We love the trend that we’ve seen happening across the country where more people are disconnecting from electronics and spending real, quality time with their kids. It does make a difference.

With Halloween just around the corner, we thought it would be a good time to remind everyone about doing their part to keep kids safe as they indulge in their sugar fix of the season. Don’t forget to:

Make sure no matter what kind of costume your kids are wearing that they can see clearly and have good visibility.

Have kids wear something reflective, so that motorists can see them.

Keep your kids from running out into the street or between vehicles.

Thoroughly check candy before allowing your kids to eat it, and never let them eat treats while they are trick-or-treating, as you will not be able to check the candy well in the dark, and you may not be able to tell if they are choking.

If your kids have outgrown trick-or-treating or you’d prefer to celebrate at home, it’s a great time to host a Halloween party. If you don’t have a game room or a kid-friendly man cave, you can transform a basement, barn or garage into a perfect party place, with a few decorations, lots of fun foods and some great games.

No matter how you celebrate the harvest season, we hope you enjoy some time with your family. And if you do have trick-or-treaters in your home, be sure to share your favorite pictures on our Facebook page.

Average gas prices this summer are predicted to spike just in time for the travel season. While they won’t reach as high as last summer’s prices, which were upwards of $4 per gallon around most of the U.S., the gas prices are expected to hover between $3.53 and $3.88 per gallon.

Who wants to spend time on the road in the middle of the summer heat and construction, while also paying a hefty price for gas and hotels? If you’re looking for a getaway that costs less but doesn’t prevent your family from having fun, why not enjoy a staycation? A staycation can be an ideal way to spend your time off, especially if you have been trying to find a way to reconnect with your family.

The perfect staycation begins with disconnecting from your regular routine. You have to actually create a vacation-like environment. Don’t work, don’t answer the phone, and by all means, do not do laundry! Leave the bed unmade every morning, and pick things to do with your kids each day that make it feel like you’re away from home.

Spend time exploring your home town. Go to museums you normally overlook; spend time discovering the history where you live. Be sure to plan plenty of downtime. See a movie, play some foosball, and have some friends over for a backyard barbecue where you can enjoy a friendly game of outdoor table tennis.

If a home project is more your style, you can use your time off to create the perfect game room, filling it with all of your favorite game tables and accessories. Staycations can be a great alternative to a complicated out-of-town vacation. You can have just as much – if not more – fun and relaxation as you would on the road.

Your children probably cannot conceive of a world in which they cannot connect to friends through social media platforms. The relationships they build and the games that they play are filtered through wireless technology. Many (if not most) of us begin our day by connecting to check email, send IMs or post tweets. Some of us never log off or disconnect. Ironically, because of technology, we can become less connected.

Technology is forcing us to communicate, work and play faster, and while technology tends to make our lives easier in many respects, it also robs us of a simplicity that was once commonplace.

Some of us have forgotten that before iPods, there were jukeboxes. Before video games, there was foosball. Before social media, we socialized while playing pool or shuffleboard. Instead of exploring the vastness of the World Wide Web, we explored the expanse of the great outdoors. We have, at times, replaced meaningful relationships with digital connections. For everything we have gained, we have also given something up.

You can get back what you have lost.

Rekindle relationships with your family and friends by disconnecting for a spell and enjoying some family fun. Board games are becoming popular again. Tournaments are held for pool, table tennis and a variety of other activities that force you to unplug from the Internet. Social media is a wonderful tool that is opening many doors and helping us connect with others. But you don’t have to stop being social and sacrifice those connections that are closest to you and closest to home.